Filing device



Feb. ze, 193s. J H HELD 1,992,694

FILING DEVICE Filed July I4, 195s sheets-sheet 1 /8 1n JIHTH'HI.

@ @am/9 www@ bformmf J. H. FIELD FILING DEVICE Feb. 26, 1935.

Filed July 14, 1933 i 2 sheets-sheet 2 ditch@ Liq,

.k w 4 f 9 2.a@ o 8 7* 2 i. 6 z w 2 6 6. 2 7 f x l w 5 Nam a a //.2. Fle M Patented Feb. 26, 1935 UNITED STATES FILING DEVICE James H. Field,Washington, D. C.

Application Julyll, 1933, Serial No. 680,469

13 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in ling devices; and moreparticularly, to devices in which a plurality of partitions or separatormembers are supported` in a substantially vertical position withflexible elements extending through openings or slots formed in thelower portion of the partitions. I

In devices of the type described, it is customary to have the partitionsslidably mounted on rails or framesv and the exible elements. This typeof construction is open to the objection that when' the pockets formedby the partitions are only partly filled, a sudden movement of thedrawer in opening will have a tendency to dislodge the pockets and theircontentsfrom the led position, spreading the partitions andnecessitating that theflle clerkv or other person reassemble the flle inits proper position. This is particularly true when the rear of the filehas been iilled with heavy iiexible material. Therefore, it becomesnecessary'to provide means for eiiciently holding the partitions inposition when the file is only partially filled. These means must besimple, inexpensive, and applicable in the least time and with the leasteffort.

The principal object of my invention, therefore, is t0 provide means formaintaining the partitions when partly filled in a predetermined(position in relation to the remainder of the file `so that accidentaldisplacement is reduced to a minimum.

Anotherobjectof the -invention is 'to proible elements or strips whichextend through the partitions both longitudinally and angularly.

Other objects will be disclosed in the specication and claims forming apart of this application. Figure 1 is a bottom perspective of the filingframe, showing the movement of the spacer and exible strips in dottedlines;

Figure 2 is a vertical longitudinal section; Figure 3 is a fragmentarytop plan showing the spacing means at the front;

Figure 4 is a detailed perspective of the spacer member;

Figure 5 is a modied form of the spacer member;

Figure 6 is a vertical cross section taken on line 6 6 of Figure 7showing a modied form of the securing means;

Figure7 is a vertical section taken on line 7-7 of Figure 6 Figure 8 isa. fragmentary perspective of the modified form of frame and spacingmeans;

Figure 9 is a modified fragmentary perspective of the frame and securingmeans; Y

` Figure 10 is atop plan of a "modiiied form'of the invention in'whichno siderails"y other than the sides of the drawer are used; y

Figure 11 is a detailedr perspectiveptaken on line 11-11 of Figure 10; l

Figure 12 is a vertical cross section of a fied form of the invention;Aand Figure 13 is anexploded perspective of a Spacing strip shown inFigure 12. v

Referring to the drawings in .which parts are designated bylikenumerals;

Numeral 14 designateaas'shown in Figure 1,` a pair of supportingrailsarranged substantially' horizontally on which are suspended a series' ofseparator partitions 15 having side'projections modisimilar at the uppercorners with slotted'zopenings'jl l which loosely engage the rails 14.

The rails 14 are provided with downwardly extending arms 17 at each end,the pair of vsaid arms at each end being joined together by bottommembers v18.V One or more flexible elements'or strips 1'9 are connectedat each end to thebottom member 18 in such a way that the resiliency ofthe four spring corners where the rails are bent down to form legs keepthe strips 19 under tension at all times. v The bottom portions of thepartitions 15 are provided with slots or openings 20 which slidablyengage the strips 19 so that the bottom of the partitions 15 are free tomove longitudinally of the strips 19. Formed on the bottom members 18are ferrules 2'1 which serve to'receive the ends of the frame membersand likewise to space the llexible strips 19 apart when in normalposition. Connected to the rear bottom member 18 by a ring 22 is aspacer strip 23 having notches 21?:V adapted to receive the exiblestrips 19 and separate the same so as to force the strips 19 into`frictional contact with the outer edges` of thev openings 20.4 f

Elastic connectors'ZQ 'are attached to each partition. Making theseconnectorselastic is possible due to thev limiting of movement of theactive part of the le, whereas previously it was necessary to use cordsor other non-elastic material'.v Further, having the connectors elasticfacilitates the expansibility of the space between `the pockets andretracts to a normal position when lightly filled.

As actually used, the ling device as illustrated inthepreferred formshown in Figure l, formsa self-contained unit adapted to be inserted ina le drawer 25 as shown in Figure 2. f

The details of construction and advantages'arev wise rigid U-shaped endmembers hooked lover contact with the partitions 15.

to a minimum. 1

I have found that after the filing unit is lled and the partitionsapproach the capacityof the unit, there is suicient friction due to theweight and expansibility of the contents of the le to prevent thisobjectionable displacement' of the,

les. As this point is reached, the clerk need only disengage the spacerstrip 23 from the flexible strips 19 anduse thenle unit in the usualmanner. TheV manipulation ofthe 1spacer strip is very simple andrequires no attention other than the initial spacing operation andtheremoval of the strip from contact With the flexible members at thedesiredv time. It isnot necessary that the spacery strip 23'be securedto the frame as these strips may be used separately,.but by having thesame secured tothe bottom member 18, there is no danger of the samebecoming lost when not I do not intend to limitA myself to use of myinvention where resilientrails and arms are used, as it is obvious thatthe invention is equally as valuablewhere the partition members 15 hookover and rest onthe sides 26 of the le drawer 25, as illustrated inFigure 10. Ialso do not Wish to limit myself to the particularembodiment of spaced strip 23 as shown in Figure 1. The same problemWill occur wherever separator partitions or pockets are slidably mountedon flexible elements.

In Figure 3 the spacer strip 23is shown at the front of the drawer 25 asunder many systems .the filing starts at the rear andnworks forward.

' afforda graduated frictional tension.` This form of strip is adaptedtobe used Where a rod is used extending the length o f the container toprevent thepulling out of the conventional guides.

It is obvious that there will be a certain amount of permanentlengthening where Vflexible strips are used, and so in Figures 6 and 7buckles 25 are shown, in connection with the flexible strips 19, thestrips passing under the rear bottom member 18'and being provided Withmetal or otherthe edge 27 of the drawer 25.

On top of the rear edge 27 of the drawer 25 i are positioned screws 28to space the flexible. strips apart and bring the same into angular Thebuckles 26 serve to not only keep the strips 19 under tension, vbut arehighly desirable where a resilient frame is used, as illustrated inFigure 'l'. When it is no longer necessary to angularly displace `theyfiexible strips 19 in the modified form shown in Figures 6 and '7, thestrips will be lifted over ther- 23 is eliminated and shoulders 29 orindents 30 are formed in the bottom member 18. In the case of theshoulder 29 shown in Figure 8, the bottom member 18 gradually tapers toform the shoulder 29.

In Figure l0 no rails or arms are utilized, the fiexible strips 19 beingsecured to a securing member 31 in front of the drawer by way of buckles26 and at the rear of the drawer is arranged a series of hooks 32, thestrips 19 having eyelets 33k formed in the ends to t over the hooks 32in accordance with the necessary amount of angular displacement in orderto create proper friction between the strips 19 and the partitions 15.

Figure 13 is a modified form of the spacing strip 23 in that it isdivided into halves 34 and 35 which overlap each other, having elongatedslots Seto receive Va wing bolt 37. The angular displacement of theflexible strips 19 may readily be increased or decreased by movement ofthe overlapping halves 311v and 35; Figure l2 shows this modified formof strip in position.

It Vwill be apparent from a reading of the fore-` creasing resistance ofthe strips against the outer edges of the holes in theouter partitions.As the active filing space is lled and the other partitionsforcedagainst the angular position of the strips, the `angle ofdistortion Will become greater and the amount of parallel strip longer.The file clerk becomes aware ofthis by the increasing difficulty of-moving thepartitions against the angular dis` placement. By the timethecontainer approaches being lled, the partitions andl contentsl thereinbecome stabilized and stand substantially vertically throughout thecontainer. This is equally truefif a spacer strip is used in front. Uponthepoin't of stabilization being reached, the le.

clerk willeither remove the spacer strip or adjust it to'relieve theacute tension. n

Theuse of the spacer member, or any means for spreading the iieXiblestrips, not only lforms a cushioning resistance to the enlargement ofthefile space in front of the partition, butassures a constant tensionin the parallel parts of theflexible strips which gives an evenresistance to the V-ing or swinging of the partitions when operated bythe hand cf the file rclerk for filing purposes. The spreading of theflexible strips offers a progressive and automatically increasingresistance to the enlargement of the filing space. Y The flexiblematerial used in the strips 19 is, of course, capable of stretching,although it is not elastic. is actually utilized in practice as itenables the partitions to recede further before the spacer must beremoved. At the same time the tensioning of the flexible strips by thespacer strip .not only impedes the progressive movement ofthepartitions, but it takes .up the permanent stretching or lengtheningwhich would inherently result from constant opening and .closing ofthe.files.

Numerous variations may doubtless :be..devised by personsskillediin theartwithout departing from the, tvrnciplfsv Qf.; invention.. 1.there-This stretchability of the material GOT fore, desire no limitations vtobeimposedon my invention, except .such as are indicated inthe appendedclaims.

.l What I claim is: l

l. A filing device comprising a container open at its upper side,ilexible means mounted in` said container and extending the lengththereof, a partition in said container mounted in slidable frictionalcontact with said flexible means, and means -adjustably connected tosaid flexible means for increasing the frictional contact between saidflexible means and partition to impede the progressive movement ofsaid'partition and prevent accidental displacement.

2. A ling device comprising a container open at its upper side, flexiblemeans mounted in said container extending the length thereof, aplurality of partitions in said container mounted in slidable frictionalcontact with said flexible means, and means adjustably connected to saidflexible means to vary the frictional contact between said flexiblemeans rand partitions by angularly displacing portions of the flexiblemeans in relation to the remainder thereof.

3. A ling device comprising a container open at its upper side, parallelflexible strips extending the length of said container, a plurality ofpartitions mounted in slidable frictional contact with said strips, andmeans to angularly displace portions of the strips at a point beyondsaid partitions for varying the frictional contact between said stripsand partitions to control the progressive movement of said partitionsand prevent accidental displacement.

4. A filing device comprising a container open at its upper side, aflexible strip extending the length of said container, a plurality ofpartitions mounted in slidable frictional contact with said strip, andmeans adapted to angularly displace a portion of the strip in relationto the remainder thereof to vary the tension of said strip and itsfrictional contact with saidv partitions.

5. A ling device comprising a container open at its upper side,longitudinally extending supporting means at opposite sides of thecontainer, a partition in said container slidably suspended on saidsupporting means transversely of said container, flexible means in saidcontainer extending the length thereof, said partition mounted inslidable frictional contact with said flexible means, and means to varythe frictional contactr between said flexible means and partition byangular displacement of a portion of said flexible means in relation tothe remainder thereof.

6. A filing device comprising a container open at its upper side,longitudinally extending supporting means at opposite sides of thecontainer, a plurality of partitions in said container slidablysuspended on said supporting means transversely of said container,substantially parallel flexible strips extending the length of saidcontainer, at least one of the outermost of said partitions mounted inslidable frictional contact with said strips, and means for angularlydisplacing portions of said strips with relation to the remainderthereof to vary the frictional contact between said strip andpartitions.

7. A filing device comprising a container open at its upper side,longitudinallyA extending supporting means at opposite sides of thecontainer, a plurality of partitions in said container slidablysuspended on said supporting means transversely of said container,substantially parallel exible strips extending the length` of saidcontainer, at least one of the outermost of said partitions stripsaspreader strip adapted to be inserted between said iiexiblestrips toangularly displace portions of said flexible strips inrelation to theparallel portions thereof andf;increase frictional` contact between saidstrips andthe outermost partition to` progressively impede the Amovementof said partitions in said container.

8.A filing device comprising a frame member having two substantiallyparallel and horizontal supporting members, va plurality of partitionstransversely and slidably suspended from said supporting members,substantially parallel ilexible strips secured at the ends thereof tosaid frame member and extending through said partitions in frictionalcontact therewith, and means to angularly displace portions of saidflexible strips with relation to the remainder thereof to vary thefrictional contact between said strips and partitions.

9. A filing device comprising a frame member having two substantiallyparallel and horizontal supporting members, a plurality ofd partitionsAtransversely and slidably suspended from said supporting members,substantially parallel flexible strips secured at the ends thereof tosaid frame member and extending through said partitions in frictionalcontact therewith, and means to angularly displace portions of saidflexible strips at a point beyondvsaid partitions and to vary frictionalContact between said strips and partitions.

l0. .A filing device comprising a container, a frame member arrangedin'said container having two substantially parallel and horizontalsupporting members, a plurality of partitions transversely and slidablysuspended from said supporting members, substantiallyparallel flexiblestrips extending throughsaid partitions Iin frictional contacttherewith, the strips being secured at one end to the frame and at theother to the container, and means to angularly displace Aportions ofsaid flexible strips at a point beyond said partitions and to vary thefrictional contact between said strips and partitions..

11. A filing device comprising a container, a frame member arranged insaid container and having two substantially parallel and horizontalsupporting members, av kplurality of partitions transversely andslidably suspended from said supporting members, substantially parallelflexible strips extending through said partitions in frictional contacttherewith, the strips being se-` cured at one end to the frame and atthe other to the container, and means carried by said container forprogressively angularly displacing portions of said flexible strips at apoint beyond said partitions and to vary'the frictional contact betweensaid strips and partitions.

12. A filing device comprising a frame member having two substantiallyparallel and horizontal supporting members, a plurality of partitionstransversely and slidably suspended from said supportingv members,substantially parallel ilexible strips secured at the ends thereof tosaid frame member and extending through said partitions in frictionalcontact therewith, a spacer strip secured to oneend of said frame memberadapted to be inserted between the exible strips to angularly displaceportions of the same in relation to those portions of the strips passingthrough the partitions, and means on said spacer strip for progressivelyincreasing or decreasing the frictional contact between said flexiblestrips and partitions. 1

mounted in lslidable frictional contact with saidv 13. Afling devicecomprisinga frame member having two substantially p'araliel andhorizontal supporting 'members a plurality of 'partitions transverselyand` slidably suspended from said 5 supporting members, substantiallyparallel flexiblerstrips secured at .the ends thereof to saidv framemember' and extending through said parti-V tions in frictional Contacttherewith, elastic connectors between said partitions,` and meanscarried by said frame adapted to angularly displace portions of saidflexible strips'with relation to the remainder thereof to varyfrictional contact between said strips and partitions.

JAMES H. FIELD.

